Experts discussed the legal aspects of liability and protection against bullying
On April 4, 2025, an event organized by the UBA Committee on Civil, Family, and Inheritance Law took place in Kyiv. The discussion topic — “Bullying: Definition, Legal Framework, and Liability” — drew attention from the legal and psychological communities, as well as educators and parents.
The event was moderated by Kateryna Anishchenko, Deputy Head of the UBA Committee on Civil, Family, and Inheritance Law, and a lawyer at RIYAKO&PARTNERS. She opened the discussion by highlighting the importance of addressing the issue of bullying in Ukrainian schools and society as a whole.
The event explored current issues surrounding legal liability and the effectiveness of protective mechanisms in cases of school conflicts and bullying. Speakers — Olha Stupak, Judge of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court; Yurii Nekliaiev, Deputy Head of the UBA Committee on Civil, Family, and Inheritance Law, Counsel at Asters, and attorney; and Stanislav Hurskyi, family psychologist and Director of the family development center “I’m Family” — shared their expertise and addressed key aspects of legislative responses to bullying, the legal consequences for those involved in such conflicts, as well as the responsibilities of educational staff and school administrators.
Special attention was paid to issues of criminal liability of minors and the role of parents in bullying prevention. Experts discussed mechanisms for the legal protection of bullying victims, particularly the prospects for moral damages compensation and reimbursement for harm caused, based on recent judicial practice.
The event marked an important step toward raising awareness of bullying in educational institutions and searching for effective legal mechanisms to combat this pressing social issue. Participants agreed on the need to improve legislation and create more effective conditions for protecting the rights of children and students.